Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Lancer Books (1972), Edition: ., 223 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member baswood
Published in 1951 this science fiction novel proves to be an adaption of two stories that appeared in the magazine Astounding Science fiction way back in 1942 and 1943. Jack Williamson was a prolific author in the genre and these original stories were written under the pseudonym of Will Stewart.
The events take place in the 22nd century out in the asteroid belt. Uranium and other materials for nuclear fission are nearly exhausted, but the discovery of antimatter material has led to a race to find a way of harnessing this, as a new source of power. Rick Drake and his father battle against a large interplanetary company to solve the scientific and engineering issues. The discovery of an antimatter or CT (Seetee) spaceship which should not exist in this universe leads to a chase further out in the asteroid belt. Paul Anders leads the charge of the company men and it becomes a personal battle between him and Rick. Strange events mystify all those who search for the Seetee ship, but there are clues for those readers knowledgeable in the genre, to guess what is happening, before the denouement in the final chapters.
There are two strong female characters pitting their wits against Rick and Paul, but the dialogue between the sexes can be excruciating: the love interest is not this novels strong point. It is the unfolding of the story that makes this a solid read for novels like this from the golden age of science fiction. Scene setting and descriptions are adequate, but there is not much to raise it above a good magazine story and so 3 stars.
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The magazine in the early 1940's was well on the way for being noted as a magazine that contained some hard science fiction stories rather than just adventure orientated stories. I am not saying that Seetee ship is hard science fiction as I understand it today (that is to say science that I don't understand), but it does have some interesting ideas. The events take place in the 22nd century out in the asteroid belt. Uranium and other materials for nuclear fission are nearly exhausted, but the discovery of antimatter material has led to a race to find a way of harnessing this, as a new source of power. Rick Drake and his father battle against a large interplanetary company to solve the scientific and engineering issues. The discovery of an antimatter or CT (Seetee) spaceship which should not exist in this universe leads to a chase further out in the asteroid belt. Paul Anders leads the charge of the company men and it becomes a personal battle between him and Rick. Strange events mystify all those who search for the Seetee ship, but there are clues for those readers knowledgeable in the genre, to guess what is happening, before the denouement in the final chapters.
There are two strong female characters pitting their wits against Rick and Paul, but the dialogue between the sexes can be excruciating: the love interest is not this novels strong point. It is the unfolding of the story that makes this a solid read for novels like this from the golden age of science fiction. Scene setting and descriptions are adequate, but there is not much to raise it above a good magazine story and so 3 stars.
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Language
Original language
English
Physical description
223 p.; 7.1 inches